Menu

[verse one] they got a n*gg* shedding tears, reminiscing on my past fears cause sh*t was hectic for me last year it appears that i’ve been marked for death, my heartless breath the underlying cause of my arrest, my life is stressed and no rest forever weary, my eyes stay teary for all the brothers that are buried in the cemetery sh*t is scary, how black on black crime legendary but at times unnecessary, i’m getting worried teardrops and closed caskets, the three strikes law is drastic and certain death for us ghetto b*st*rds what can we do when we’re arrested, but open fire life in the pen ain’t for me, cause i’d rather die but don’t cry through your despair i wonder if the lord still cares, for us n*gg*s on welfare and who cares if we survive the only time they notice a n*gg* is when he’s clutching on a four-five my neighborhood ain’t the same cause all these little babies going crazy and they suffering in the game and i swear it’s like a trap but i ain’t given up on the hood, it’s all good when i go back hoes show me love, n*gg*s give me props forever hop cause it don’t stop… on my block

[chorus: a bunch of kids – see the liner notes] living life is but a dream hard times is all we see (on my block) every block is kinda mean but on our block we still prayyyyyy but on our block we still prayyyyyy…

[verse two] now sh*t’s constantly hot, on my block, it never fails to be gunshots can’t explain a mother’s pain, when her son drops black male slipping in hail when will we prevail fearing jail but crack sales got me living well and the system’s suicidal with this thug’s life staying strapped forever trapped in this drug life god help me, cause i’m starving, can’t get a job so i resort to violent robberies, my life is hard can’t sleep cause all the dirt make my heart hurt put in work and shed tears for my dead peers mislead from childhood where i went astray till this day i still pray for a better way can’t help but feel hopeless and heartbroke from the start i felt the racism cause i’m dark couldn’t quit the bullsh*t make me represent hit the bar and played the star, everywhere i went in my heart, i felt alone out here on my own i close my eyes and picture home… on my block

[chorus w/ minor variations]

[verse three] and i can’t help but wonder why, so many young kids had to die caught strays from ak’s and the driveby swollen pride and homicide, don’t coincide brothers cry for broken lives, mama come inside cause our block is filled with danger used to be a close knit community but now we’re all cold strangers time changes us to stone them crack pipes all up and down the block exterminating black life but i can’t blame the dealers my mama’s welfare check has brought the next man chrome wheels sh*t’s real, i know ya feel, my tragedy a single mother with a problem child, daddy free hanging out picking up game, sipping cheap liquor gamin the hoochies hoping i can get to sleep with her it’s a man’s world, staying strapped fantasies of a n*gg* living phat, but held back pipe dreams can make the night seem hopeless wide eyed and losing focus… on my block

[chorus w/ minor variations]

[verse four] and block parties in the projects lasting way past daylight a young n*gg* learned to break night used to play fight with my homies but they stuck in the pen i send them ends, but it’s tough on a friend, in my mind i see the same motherf*ckers balling alcohol will make a lazy n*gg* slip and fall, miss his call i know the young n*gg*s understand this growing up in this world where everything is scandalous i reminisce on the fast times, past crimes trying to cop a slice of pizza with my last dime can’t explain, just what attracts me to this dirty game gold chains, some extra change, and the street fame and what’s strange is everybody knows my name, swear they all know me and lots of cash make a n*gg* change i hit the green just to maintain, feeling pain for all the n*gg*s that i lost to the game… from my block

[chorus w/ minor variations; kids repeat last line over and over]

[2pac – speaking over chorus] rest in peace to all the motherf*ckers who p*ssed away from all the blocks that i’m from one-twelve street, 7th avenue, new york, uptown, knahmsayin? 183rd and walt, my block, that’s right 122nd and morningside, my block, that’s right decatur avenue, baltimore, my block, that’s right in the jungle of marin city, that’s my block, that’s right los angeles, haha, that’s my block too oakland, can’t forget oaktown, that’s my block for sure and all the other blocks around this motherf*cker houston, florida, st. louis, tennessee, miami, chicago all y’all n*gg*s stay kicking up dust represent the motherf*cking block